10 days 'til Christmas

10 days 'til Christmas...I'm not sure this countdown was such a good idea...time seems to be moving quickly! Today's recipe:
Granny's Ginger Snaps
3/4 cups shortening (I use butter)
1 cup white sugar
1 egg beaten
4 Tbsp molasses
2 cups flour (granny's note: or 2-1/2 cups--what?)
2 tsp soda
salt (I'm guessing 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves (ground)
1 tsp ginger (ground)
Roll in round ball & dip in sugar or candies bake at 350° (she doesn't say how long...I'm guessing about 8 minutes)
I can't tell you how many it makes, probably depends upon how big you roll them. You gotta love Granny's recipes...makes baking adventurous!

11 Days 'til Christmas

11 Days 'til Christmas--YIKES!!! I better get crackin' on finishing my gifts.
Today's recipe:
Granny's Peanut Butter Snowballs
These delicious sweet treats are a hit with kids of all ages, and the kids will love making them too!
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
1 Tbsp melted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup toasted, crushed walnuts
1 cup rice krispies
Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tbsp milk
1/4 tsp vanilla
To roll:
Shredded coconut
Mix together ingredients and roll into 1-inch balls, dip in glaze, and then roll in coconut
Chill to firm them up and just see if you can wait to try them!

12 Days Til Christmas

Just 12 Days until Christmas, and the kitties are snuggled all warm in our bed...
In honor of the twelve days til Christmas, I'm posting a holiday recipe each day until Christmas, and I hope you enjoy! I don't have photos of all of them but will share the ones I do have.
Today's recipe:
Lisa's Shrimp Gumbo
3 Tbsp Bacon Grease or oil or butter
1 Green Pepper, diced
1 Large Onion, diced
2 Stalks Celery, diced or 1 cup Cubed Celeriac
3-4 Cloves Chopped Garlic
3-4 Chopped Chipotle Peppers
3/4 Cup Red Lentils
3/4 Cup Brown Rice
6 Cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock
1 can Tomatoes or 3 large ones from the freezer doused in boiling water, then peeled
1 can Tomato Paste
3 Tablespoons Chili Powder
2 Tablespoons Smoked Paprika
2 Tablespoons Ground Cumin
1 Tablespoon Ground Coriander
1 Tablespoon Ground Cayenne Pepper
1-2 Teaspoons Sea Salt
1-2 Teaspoons Freshly Ground Pepper
1 Bay Leaf
1 lb peeled, deveined, tail off shrimp, chopped into smaller bite-sized pieces
...and a partridge in a pear tree.
To prepare:
Heat a large kettle over medium heat, then add the fat. Cook the onions, green peppers and celery or celeriac over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes more before adding the bay leaf and spices. Next add the tomato and tomato paste and allow the tomato (if frozen) to continue thawing. Next add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add the rice and bring the pot back to a boil, then turn down to medium and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the lentils and bring the pot back to a boil, then turn down to medium and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook for 10 minutes more.
Serve with homemade cornbread and extra hot sauce for those of us who like it spicy!
Makes a big pot, so you can have leftovers for lunch or even freeze some for a quick hot meal on a cold winter day.
Approximately 8 servings
Start to finish time: 1 hour

Record Snow

Just a couple of days ago we were saying Let it Snow....and it snowed, and snowed, and snowed!

This is the view Beast saw out the window at 4:30 am this morning. As of right now we are 1 inch short of an all-time record snowfall within a 24 hour period...I think we'll make it! It's the first time I can ever remember all 72 counties in Wisconsin being declared in a state of emergency.

Check out the main page of Lisa's website for more photos from today.

Now the wind comes and all this crazy snow is going to blow around all night while the temp drops well below zero. Gotta love Madison in Winter!

Happy Holidays

xxoo, Beast

Sorrel Focaccia with Kale and Bacon Scrambler

Check out this recipe I just posted on Examiner.com

Slaving over the stove

Beast, who isn't allowed on the stove, occasionally falls asleep while "watching" the stove. Of course, it's one of the warmest places in the house, especially when there's a pot of stock cooking on the stove, and something else baking in the oven...it's hard to discipline this!

Tim's 50!

Seen on Bashford Ave today....